By someone who’s seen what happens when you do!

Whether you’re hauling your team across Europe, heading to a flyaway event, or tagging a few race days onto what you’re calling a ‘holiday’, one thing for certain is that standard travel insurance doesn’t cut it in motorsport.

This isn’t about lost sunglasses at the airport.  Motorsport comes with its own breed of chaos (you already know this) expensive kit, high-risk activities, and a tendency to be miles from anywhere when something goes wrong.  And when it does, for sure you’ll want your insurance sorted.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way (and what you should get right before the van even leaves the drive).

1. Know What You’re Actually Covered For

Not all travel insurance is created equal and if your policy doesn’t specifically include motorsport, there’s a good chance it excludes it.  Racing, testing, even “driving at speed” can be quietly ruled out in the small print.  That’s before you even get to things like medical cover or replacing gear.  So:

• Check your policy covers competition use, not just casual driving.
• Make sure medical emergencies on and off the track are included.
• Know the limits on equipment, because your £15k worth of helmets, spares and dataloggers won’t be classed the same as a toothbrush.
• Look out for pre-existing condition exclusions, and don’t assume your team doctor can just fix things quietly behind the garage.
  

2. Keep the Important Stuff Where You Can Find It

I’ve been to circuits where your mobile signal disappears faster than your lead on the final lap.  So don’t just rely on cloud storage and WhatsApp groups.  Save a digital copy of your policy, yes but print it out too.  Same goes for emergency contact numbers and claim instructions.

And do your team a favour and share it with them.  If you’re the one who ends up in the medical centre, you want someone else to know who to call and what to do.

3. Get on the Phone Early if You’re Injured

If you’ve taken a knock or fall ill while abroad, especially if it’s racing-related – don’t just limp off to the nearest A&E. Call your insurer first. They’ll tell you where to go, who to see, and how to avoid paying through the nose for treatment that won’t be reimbursed later.

Most insurers want to be in the loop before treatment starts. Skip this step, and you risk delays, rejected claims, or footing the bill yourself.

4. Claims Are a Paper Trail – So Start the Engine Early

Lost luggage, damaged kit, injuries or whatever’s gone wrong, write it down and take photos.
You’ll need:

• Police or incident reports
• Medical records or doctor’s notes
• Receipts for anything you had to buy
• Photos of damage, dates, names, witness details, whatever paints the full picture

It’s a faff, yes. But without it, your claim could stall before it even gets going.

Final Word

Motorsport is unpredictable (that’s part of why we love it) we all know that. But your travel insurance doesn’t have to be.  Getting the right policy in place isn’t just good admin it’s a lifeline when things go south.

So before you load the truck, check your cover.  Make sure it works for your kind of travel, not just a beach holiday. Wherever you’re off to next, may you keep your team safe, your paperwork sorted, and your head in the race.